Psalms 97:10 (96:10)

You who love the Lord, hate evil;
The Lord keeps the souls of His saints;
He shall deliver them from the hand of sinners.

Encouraging Words

We are charged by the Psalmist to hate evil. This does not mean that we hate those who do evil things because all of us do evil things sooner or later. We hate the evil and love the sinner for that is what God does. The important part of this verse is the reminder that God keeps the souls of His Saints, His believers, in His protection and delivers from the evils of the world. Glory be to God!

Romans 5:12-13

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.)

Personal Challenge

The challenge with embracing the concept of original sin is that it gives me the excuse that I sin because Adam and Eve sinned. Through Adam and Eve sin entered the world and broke the perfect creation of God. Adam and Eve are responsible for that sin and are accountable to God for it. However, now that sin has entered the world, I have the propensity to sin, When I sin it is because I choose to and therefore, I am fully responsible for that sin. That is why I need Jesus. Jesus did His great work so that I can be forgiven of my sins and through a relationship with Him, learn how to choose not to sin. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Encouraging Words

There is no greater love that one can have for another than to give their life for them. When the one who is receiving this gift does not deserve it, then that love is magnified. This is what Jesus did for us. He loved us so much that He became a human being, lived a sinless life, and then died a horrendous death for us. Why? So that we could experience eternal life with Him. Glory be to God!

Psalms 92:15 (91:16)

So as to proclaim, “The Lord my God is upright,
And there is no wrongdoing in Him.”

Encouraging Words

God is God and I am not. God is perfect in all aspects, and I am full of imperfections. God does nothing wrong or sin and yet I do all the time. Despite my imperfections and sinful life, He loves me fully and perfectly. For this I am very grateful and blessed. Glory be to God!

Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Encouraging Words

I love all the active verbs in this passage revealing to us that our God is not passive in His relationship with us. Look at this list…

     justified by faith
     we have peace
     we have access by faith
     into His grace we stand
     rejoice in hope
     glory in tribulations
     knowing
     tribulation produces perseverance
          perseverance produces character
               character produces hope
                    hope does not disappoint
     love of God poured out, given to us by the Holy Spirit

Psalms 91:14-16 (90:14-16)

“For he hoped in Me, and I will deliver him;
I will shelter him, because he knew My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will hear him;
I am with him in affliction,
And I will deliver and glorify him.
With length of days I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”

Encouraging Words

The psalmist points out so many things that will happen in our lives when we put our hope in God. God will deliver us through every trial and tribulation of life. He shelters us. He lets us know Him. He hears us when we call out to Him. He is with us in our hard times. Again, He delivers us and even glorifies us. He satisfies us. And most importantly, He shows us His salvation. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Romans 4:5-8

But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered;
Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.”

Personal Challenge

We are blessed by God, not for the things that we do, but for how we believe in Him. It is by our faith in Him that we receive His blessings. It is because of our love for Him and our appreciation of His blessings that we do works for Him. Living this way always puts God at the center of everything, which it should be. Glory be to God!

Psalms 91:4 (90:4)

He shall overshadow you with His shoulders,
And under His wings you shall hope;
His truth shall encircle you with a shield.

Encouraging Words

It is amazing, when you think about it, that the almighty God, who holds all of creation in the palm of His hand, chooses to overshadow, encircle, and protect each and every one of us. He loves us that much. The imagery of the protective mother hen covering up her brood to protect them from the storm or the predator is so appropriate. Thank you. Father, for your love and protection!